Apparatus for generating ozone

Abstract

Apparatus for the generation of ozone by electrostatic discharge. An array of glass tubes are provided each containing a conductive rod therein serving as a core. Adjacent tubes are parallel to each other and the conductive rod of each tube is connected to the secondary terminal of a high voltage transformer. The tubes containing the conductive rods serve as an electrode when the voltage transformer is activated thereby creating an electrostatic field. Oxygen molecules in the electrostatic field are transformed to form ozone molecules. The apparatus can be applied to deodorizing an enclosed space with the addition of a fan to feed oxygen past the tube array and distribute the ozone that is generated. The apparatus also has an odor emitting chamber to prevent excess ozone build up after operation.

What I claim is: 
     
       1. Apparatus for producing ozone for the elimination of odor which comprises: a. at least two tubes, said tubes having an open end and a closed end, said tubes being made of soda lime glass, said tubes arranged parallel to each other with a gap of at least 2 mm between said tubes; the open end of one of said tubes aligned 180° from the open end of the adjacent tube;   b. at least two rods of a conductive material, each rod being housed partially within one of said tubes with the tip of said rod extending from the open end of said tube;   c. sealing means for sealing the open end of said tubes containing said rods;   d. socket means to receive the tip of said rods which extends from the open end of said tubes as said tubes are arranged parallel to each other with the tip of adjacent rods within said tubes 180° from each other.   e. support means for holding said tubes containing said rods in a parallel position;   f. a source of voltage connected to said socket means for generating at least 7500 volt voltage drop across each of said rods so as to create an electrical discharge whereby oxygen molecules around and between said tubes containing said rods can be changed to ozone;   g. fan means located adjacent to said tubes to feed air past said tubes;   h. a chamber downstream of said fan means, said chamber containing a substance which releases a vapor that causes breakdown of ozone molecules, said chamber being closed when ozone is being produced by the apparatus;   i. valve means communicating with said chamber whereby the closure of said valve means seals said chamber and the opening of said valve means opens said chamber to the air being moved by said fan means; and   j. timing control means connected to said source of voltage, to said fan means and to said valve means whereby said timing control means maintains said valve means closed and said fan means operational when said source of voltage is generating sufficient voltage for ozone production and opens said valve means and maintains said fan means operational when ozone production caused by said source of voltage is stopped.